Third Reich 1933-1945 (Germany)

Drittes Reich, German Empire, Deutsches Reich

Last modified: 2002-04-20 by santiago dotor
Keywords: germany | german empire | deutsches reich | third reich | nationalsocialist | nazi | disc (white) | swastika | cross: swastika (black) | hakenkreuz |
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3:5
by Mark Sensen and António Martins
Flag adopted on 11th March 1933 as co-national flag, 15th September 1935 as national flag

• Introduction
• Bibliography
• Flags used 11th March 1933 - 15th September 1935
• Flags used 15th September 1935 - 8th May 1945
• Swastika Flag Specifications and Construction Sheet
• National Socialist German Worker's Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei / NSDAP / Nazi Party)
• Flags of the Armed Forces (Wehrmacht):
  • Flags of the Army (Heer)
  • Flags of the Navy (Kriegsmarine)
  • Flags of the Air Force (Luftwaffe)
  • European Volunteer Units in the German Armed Forces 1941-1945
• Police Flags 1937-1945
• Civil Defence Flags 1933-1945
• German Hunting Society 1934-1945 (Deutsche Jägerschaft)
• Origins of the Swastika Flag
• Eagles on Third Reich Flags

See also:

• Free City of Danzig 1920-1939
• Memel District 1920-1939
• Sudetenland 1938-1945
• Bohemia and Moravia 1939-1945
• German-Occupied Territories 1939-1945
• Historical Flags
• Germany

Other sites:

• Third Reich Factbook by Marcus Wendel

On 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor with a cabinet in coalition with the German National People's Party (Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP, a reactionary, largely monarchist party). Not long after, a fire broke out and largely destroyed the Reichstag building. The Nazis claimed this fire was part of a Communist coup attempt. Taking advantage of this, the government quickly called an election which gave the Nazi - German National government a majority in the parliament. The government quickly banned the Communist party (which gave the Nazis a majority without the German Nationals) and in July abolished all parties other than the Nazis.

Norman Martin, 15 December 1997

Immediately after the March 1933 elections, new flags were created, including the Swastika Flag (Hakenkreuzfahne) which was used until 1945. However, its use and its incorporation into other flags and ensigns were modified after the elections of late 1935. Notice that all of the "national flags" were replaced or modified. The rank flags of the Navy, which the Weimar Republic had taken over from the Empire, were however left unchanged. Interestingly enough, the Arms were not changed until 1935.

The second period of Nazi era flags starts late in the year 1935, (...) when the Nazis again changed almost all of the German flags.

Norman Martin, January 1998

My best suggestions for Third Reich vexillological bibliography would be Davis 1975, England 1997 and Davis 2000.

Santiago Dotor, 24 January 2000